H.R. 5401 · 119th Congress

Keeps paying military members and support staff during a shutdown in fiscal 2026

Official title: Pay Our Troops Act of 20261

Never got a floor votePreventing government shutdowns

§1What it does

Why this matters: A plain-English description of the bill as it was voted on, written by us from the official summary and text.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

This bill would provide money to keep paying members of the armed forces, including reservists on active service, during any government shutdown in the 2026 fiscal year, meaning any period when neither temporary nor full-year funding for that year is in effect.2,3 It would also cover pay for Defense Department civilian employees and contractors who support those service members, and for Homeland Security personnel and contractors who support the Coast Guard, until the relevant spending law is enacted or January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.2

§2Status

StatusLatest action, September 16, 2025: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.1
IntroducedSeptember 16, 2025
SponsorRep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
Cosponsors210 cosponsors (129 Republican, 81 Democratic)
Official recordH.R. 5401 on Congress.gov

§3It never got a vote

Why this matters: This bill had wide support from both parties, but it never reached the House or Senate floor, so no member of Congress was ever recorded voting for or against it.

Latest action, September 16, 2025: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.1 How bills die without a vote.

2026 candidates who sponsored or cosponsored it (182)